Advanced Arctic Radar Remote Sensing

Overview

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) seeks solutions enabling research toward advanced radar remote sensing methods, radar instrument development, and associated computational frameworks for more robust terrain characterization in Arctic environments. A total of up to $900,000 may be available to make several awards for solutions that deliver new instrumentation, methodologies, tools, software repositories, etc. for advanced radar remote sensing methodologies toward terrain characterization in cold regions.

Radar remote sensing instruments that characterize Arctic terrain properties (like snow mass, soil freeze/thaw, moisture, and surface stability) are crucial for U.S. Army operations in cold regions. While imaging radar on various platforms and frequencies shows potential for estimating these properties, current instruments are not specifically designed or developed for cold terrain sensing. Transitioning radar from stationary towers to mobile platforms requires advanced signal processing, more complex than other sensing methods.

Broader engineering and geospatial analyses tools will benefit from the coordination of developing hardware and methods as well as the integration of computational frameworks with software code repositories. These tools are vital to removing requirements that rely on human expertise to process, analyze, and assess data in Arctic regions.

Project Objective

The primary objective of this Individual Program Requirement (IPR) is to develop new solutions or advance existing partial solutions to fully satisfy either the Threshold or Objective Goals specified below.

Threshold Goal*

Demonstration of advanced radar remote sensing methods (in the megahertz to gigahertz radar frequencies) to address cold regions terrain properties (e.g., snow mass, soil freeze thaw, soil moisture, etc.) in a relative cold or Arctic environment to include but not limited to the minimum required outcomes:

• Raw radar observations and derivative products
• Advanced processing methods focused on complex radar data (e.g., synthetic aperture radar formation, interferometric methods, etc.)
• Methods for transitioning tower-based/static radar observations to a mobile (vehicle- or airborne) platform that includes collection of accurate positioning information and sophisticated processing while the sensor is moving
• Computational framework (in the form of a code repository) to include methods for not only the data acquisition of radar observations but also translating raw observations into meaningful geospatial end-products.

*As a minimum, any proposals considered must deliver a solution able to meet these required outcomes. Proposals unable to deliver a solution addressing these outcomes will be excluded.

Objective Goal

• Threshold requirement as stated above, and
• Delivery of advanced radar remote sensing hardware (e.g., radar, antennae, mounting, and deployment solutions for tower-based and UAS-based configurations) and a software solution to acquire, process, and generate geospatial end-products.

An ideal solution under this funding profile would deliver this outcome.

Project Manager

Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)

Requirements

All potential solutions will be considered against the program requirements and technology readiness levels. To be considered, a pre-proposal must clearly:

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of (and experience with) existing radar remote sensing methods and approaches in cold regions and Arctic terrain characterization.

Applicants must be registered on SAM.gov. Submissions should NOT include confidential or proprietary details.

Estimated Government Funding Profile

Up to $900,000.

More than one solution may be awarded within the limits of this funding profile. The government may fund portions of several offered solutions to achieve the desired end state.

All resultant contracts will be firm-fixed price. All items, technologies, and services (including research and development) procured via this CSO are treated as commercial. The Contracting Officer must determine the price fair and reasonable prior to award.

Estimated Period of Performance

• Estimated 12 months for delivery of Phase II solutions. The government wishes to see products delivered and demonstrated within 12 months of award. The government may consider longer POPs for delivery of the full solution, under special circumstances based on technical merit and where interim deliverables are made during the first 12 months.
• The Phase II full proposal is due 30 days after the offeror receives notification of a “Request for Full Proposal,” or at a date agreed upon with the CRREL Contracting Officer.
• Additional future follow-on work may be proposed and may be considered as part of a Phase III (unfunded options) with a period of performance based on scope.

Desired End State

Effective solutions that provide new radar sensing tools and methodologies and instruments for Arctic regions will enable timely planning and decision-making for the warfighter.

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be reviewed based on the criteria described in ERDC’s CSO Solicitation document by ERDC subject matter experts. Submissions may be shared as appropriate with other ERDC stakeholders. The government has the authority to decline all submitted proposals. The government does not plan to engage in the debrief process outlined in FAR part 15 but will provide feedback to unsuccessful offerors as appropriate and at its discretion.

Notional Project Schedule

Proposed project milestones include:

February 28, 2025	Project Announced, Submissions Open
March 21, 2025	Question Period Ends, FAQs Finalized
March 31, 2025	Submissions Close
April 1-11, 2025	ERDC Evaluation Period
April-May 2025	Participants Selected for Phase II are Notified by ERDC
June 2025	Phase II Full Proposal Deadline

*Dates may vary to accommodate project team and participant availability. The government may accelerate the pre-proposal review/feedback timeline, and therefore also require earlier delivery of full proposals.

Project Security Classification

Unclassified